Word Origin & History

mustang "small, half-wild horse of the Amer. prairie," 1808, from Mex.Sp. mestengo "animal that strays," from Sp. mestengo "wild, stray, ownerless," lit. "belonging to the mesta," an association of cattle ranchers who divided stray or unclaimed animals that got "mixed" with the herds, from L. mixta "mixed," fem. pp. of miscere "to mix" (see mix). Said to be influenced by the Sp. word mostrenco, which is of obscure origin and meaning.

Example Sentences for mustangs

We cracked up on a fighter strip while bombing with Mustangs.

The mustangs trembled, and acted as if they wished to turn and run.

"If only I could collar one of their mustangs, and get away on it," he thought.

We knew that they were mustangs—the wild horses of the Desert.

These mustangs are quite wild, and have no fixed feeding-ground.

Mules and mustangs, picketed on long trail-ropes, were clustered over it.

To the right and left sprang the Tagnos, leaving free the heads of the mustangs.

Conscientious to a degree, she did as she was bid and held the mustangs firmly.